[Intro]
There is a train that comes from Namibia and Malawi
There is a train that comes from Zambia and Zimbabwe
There is a train that comes from Angola and Mozambique
From Lesotho, from Botswana, from Swaziland
From all the hinterlands of Southern and Central Africa
This train carries young and old, African men
Who are conscripted to come and work on contract
In the gold and mineral mines of Johannesburg
And it's surrounding metropolis, sixteen hours or more a day
For almost no pay
Deep, deep, deep down in the belly of the earth
When they are digging and drilling that shiny mighty evasive stone
Or when they dish that mish mesh mush food
Into their iron plates with the iron shank
Or when they sit in their stinking, funky, filthy
Flea-ridden barracks and hostels
They think about the loved ones they may never see again
Because they might have already been forcibly removed
From where they last left them
Or wantonly murdered in the dead of night
By roving, marauding gangs of no particular origin
We are told
They think about their lands, and their herds
That were taken away from them
With the gun, and the bomb, and the teargas, the gatling and the cannon
And when they hear that Choo-Choo train
A-chugging, and a pumping, and a smoking, and a pushing
A pumping, a crying and a steaming and a chugging and
A whooo whooo!
They always cuss, and they curse the coal train
The coal train that brought them to Johannesburg
Whooo whooo!
[Trumpet solo]

[Chorus]
Stimela sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel’ eDalagubhayi
Sangilahla kwaGuqa
Bathi sizomba amalahle (Sizomba amalahle)
Stimela sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel' eDalagubhayi
Sangilahla kwaGuqa
Bathi sizomba amalahle (Sizomba amalahle)

[Verse]
Iyohhh...
Sind' inyul’ enkomponi
Ngath' uyabhayiza wena bathi (Stimela!)
Sihleli njengezinja, siyelele mame
Emigodini mama (Bathi stimela)
Sikhalel' izihlobo zethu (Masibuyeleni! eDalagubhayi)
Sikhalel' izingane zethu wololo! (Masibuyeleni! eDalagubhayi)
Sikhalela macheri wethu, mama oh! (Masibuyeleni! eDalagubhayi)
Sikhalel' abazali bethu!
Yelele yelele yelele yelele yelele

[Chorus]
Stimela
Sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel' eDalagubhayi
Stimela
Sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel' eDalagubhayi

Stimela
Sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel' eDalagubhayi

[Bridge]
Helele bathi Stimela ma wo!
Stimela
Sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel’ eDalagubhayi

Bathi, Stimela ma wo!
Stimela!
Sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel’ eDalagubhayi
Whooo whooo!

[Chorus]
Stimela
Sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel' eDalagubhayi
Stimela
Sihamba ngamalahle
Sivel’ eDalagubhayi
Whooo whooo!